Shield Strong: Honoring the People Behind the Badge
Share
Short answer: Shield Strong is a national initiative by Arrest My Vest that honors police officers, their families, and officers who have been lost. Anyone can submit a story or nominate an officer or family here. Each year, one honoree from each of three categories receives financial support or a memorial grant, lifetime Arrest My Vest product support, and a permanent feature on our website.
The uniform comes off at the end of every shift. The weight never does.
Every officer carries more than a vest and a duty belt. They carry pressure, responsibility, and the calls that stay with them long after the report is filed. Behind every one of those officers is a family carrying it too.
Most of those stories are never told. The call that changed everything, the night a family held their breath, and the moment an officer almost didn't come home usually stay private. Over time, too many sacrifices go unseen and too many families carry that weight alone. Shield Strong exists to change that.
What is Shield Strong?
Shield Strong is a national initiative from Arrest My Vest dedicated to honoring the real people behind the badge. That includes officers, their families, and those we have lost.
It is not a campaign. It is a commitment to recognize sacrifices that usually go unseen, to give a voice to stories that are often carried in silence, and to preserve legacies that should never be forgotten.
Why would a gear company start something like this?
Arrest My Vest was built to solve a real problem for officers: gear that can't be washed. Our founder, Paul C. Anderson, is a chemical engineer who spent decades in fabric care before creating OAM Technology. OAM stands for Odor Absorbing Molecules, and it bonds to odor and breaks it down at the source instead of covering it up.
That work put us in daily contact with the law enforcement community. Over the years, it became clear that this community carries far more than physical weight. We have seen the exhaustion, the resilience, the pride, and the heartbreak. We knew we had a responsibility to do more, and Shield Strong is that promise.
Who does Shield Strong honor?
Shield Strong recognizes three groups of people every year.
The family that serves. Spouses, children, and parents live with the unknown every day, quietly and often without recognition. We honor families who support officers through long nights and hard calls, kids growing up with a parent who serves, and loved ones who carry the emotional weight of the job.
The officer behind the badge. The uniform doesn't define the person. The person defines the uniform. We honor officers who have overcome trauma, injury, or burnout, who have served with integrity under pressure, and who chose to stay when walking away would have been easier.
The ultimate sacrifice. Some names should never be forgotten. We honor fallen officers and their families, including those lost in the line of duty and those lost after service. These stories celebrate who they were beyond the uniform, the love they gave, and the legacy they left behind.
What do annual honorees receive?
One honoree from each category is recognized during Shield Strong Week. Honorees receive:
- Financial support or a memorial grant
- Custom Shield Strong recognition
- Lifetime Arrest My Vest product support
- A permanent feature on our website
- Story amplification across our national audience
This is our way of giving back to the community that has trusted us, year after year.
Why does this community trust Arrest My Vest?
For more than 10 years, officers, K9 handlers, corrections officers, and first responders have relied on Arrest My Vest to keep their gear fresh. Over a million bottles later, we are still made in the USA and still focused on the people who wear the badge. Shield Strong is how we say thank you for that trust.
How can you help keep these stories alive?
Someone you know has a story that deserves to be remembered. Someone you love has carried more than most people will ever understand. When you share their story, you make sure it lives on.
